"The best side in the division so far"- That is what they said to us at the end of the game, not bad coming from the side top of the league.
We were put into bat on a scorcher and a decent track also, we started fairly well Lodgey again looking very mature and hitting it very well. We then lost 2 quick wickets, Newman for a first nut. I batted with Lodgey and we started going well, scoring very quickly, however bad shot selection by both of us was the downfall and we both fell in the 30's. Shah carried on his form scoring a decent 43, AK batted well and patient in what was an unpleasant atmosphere for all batsmen. Grovesy, Meersie and HWT batted extremley well, scoring quickly and in the end we finished on 267 all out after 49 overs.
At the start of their innings it was always going to be a gettable total, however there openers just could not play Newman and Meersie, with the ball jagging of the seam and the fact that they were to quick. That was the best opening bowling attack I have seen in this league and the start we got was fantastic, after 14 overs they were on 10 runs or so without losing a wicket. The fielding by all was superb, the standards set by andy keeler with a superb diving stop that would have been 4 and they just could not score a run. Lodgey and Shah then came on, Lodgey picking up the first wicket in his first over, then he picked up another very quickly, they were 60 odd for 2 after 25. Then the thunder and lightning started, so to get overs through I have come on bowling off spin along with grovesy. I managed to pick up there opener for 43 getting us another point, then the rain came and that was it. They were 83 for 3 after 29.3 overs, no justice at all, we outplayed and we were going to beat them I have no doubt, we were on top throughout and really got under there skin which was great.
Sadly this game was ruined by a couple of their players, not all but 3 or 4 of them. We as players can take banter, and sledging no issues with that. But threatening players that they will see them after the game and fill them in is pathetic. One word of advice to those idiots, IF YOU CANT TAKE IT, DONT GIVE IT!!!
Other than that it was a very good game played hard by both sides which is what I love, we played so well in all departments it was superb to captain that side, particulary when they turned round and said that we were the best team they have played in that league all year. Thats a great compliment, granted we were basically screwed by the weather but we can take so many positive points from this into next week.
We now have 2 home games back to back, so lets all play hard and enjoy and we will show this league that we are the ones that should be going up.
Well done fellas really proud of you all xx
2nd XI
